2020 BMW X3 Complaint

Owner's description

I am submitting a formal safety complaint regarding a defect in my 2020 BMW X3 that has resulted in the failure of a critical emergency safety system. The vehicle displayed an error message indicating an “Emergency Call System Malfunction.” I brought the vehicle to BMW of Murrieta on March 30, 2026, for diagnosis and repair. Upon inspection, the service center determined that the Telematic Control Unit (TCU) had sustained water damage. This damage was attributed to water intrusion originating from the vehicle’s shark fin antenna. This is a known issue documented by BMW in internal Service Information Bulletin SIB 65 12 22 (dated October 5, 2022). Despite acknowledgment of this known defect, BMW declined to cover the repair costs for both the antenna-related water intrusion and the resulting damage to the TCU. This failure presents a significant safety hazard. The emergency call system is designed to automatically notify emergency services in the event of a collision. With this system inoperable, occupants may be unable to receive timely emergency assistance, increasing the risk of serious injury or death. Given that BMW is aware of this defect and its potential to disable a critical safety feature, I believe this issue warrants further investigation and should be considered for a mandatory safety recall.

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